After the unspeakable act, the cave went deeper into silent. nothing needed to be said, as none of the people here had the courage to inquire about the dead shinobi.

Their death—maybe everyone had already seen it coming.

Many shed tears, For the two who died unaware and unconscious without a slightest option to change their fate or even a opportunity to express a final regard with their loved-one.

Muffled cries were heard, which too stopped eventually.

For the next twelve or so hours, everyone quietly prepared for their escape. During this time, the non-fatally injured shinobis recovered enough to at least run as fast as possible for when the time eventually comes

The last remaining unconscious shinobi also regains consciousness. Unlike the other two who were put out of their misery, he was spared from the same fate, as his injuries weren't overly life-threatening. This boy, named Kiri, is around the same age as Mei Terumi.

Speaking of which, The girl appeared overjoyed when Kiri woke up; evidently, they seemed to be part of the same team.

Although the boy is still weak, he has the will to keep running.

The bet seemed to have paid off. With fewer people to heal, the medical-nins were able to focus more of their attention and care on the remaining patients, resulting in a more effective recovery for many—through the sacrifice of two.

The total number of teams present here is five, this includes Zabuza's team.. Originally Chukichi had been assigned to lead four of the teams for an unrelated mission.

Therefore, ideally, the number of shinobis, including the newly joined Team Yagura, should have been 20, but the situation isn't ideal in the slightest. during the return to their battlefield HQ, upon the mission's successful completion, they were ambushed.

With the two newly deceased shinobis, in total, four fatalities have already occurred in their ranks. Among the dead is the jonin team leader of one of the teams; he had died while protecting the group during a dangerous predicament.. this had happened days prior to Zabuza and his teammate's arrival.

So presently, the actual number of shinobis hiding in the cave is only 16.

Out of them, everyone else except Team Yagura is injured in one form or another, ranging from small bruises to amputation. Very few are relatively fit for the forthcoming challenges...

Those few includes the medical-nin who was treating the injured along with the help from Ruka.

there is also Mei Terumi, and one of her teammates, apparently a member of the renowned Yuki clan, a frosty boy called Rahyo.

Zabuza hasn't yet learned of the boy's identity.

. . . . .

Early the following morning, the group departed from the cave. All sixteen ninjas rushed out into the open field, lacking any sort of tall vegetation to cover their movements.. still with a stroke of luck, they managed to reach the tree-covering without being noticed by the enemies.

Before leaving the cave, the teams were temporarily readjusted for better efficiency and mobility during their escape and also to make up for the missing nin in the teams.

This reshuffling excluded Yagura's Team-6 for obvious reasons—being that it was the team with no casualties or any kind of injury for that matter.

Another team comprising; Mei Terumi, Rahyo, Kiri, and their team Leader Chukichi also remained unchanged, as fortunately, no fatalities had occurred among them.

Out of the three remaining teams, one was dissolved—It's the same team whose jonin leader was martyred in battle. The composition of the other two teams changed as a result.

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Team 3—this team had lost two of its members, both genins. So, the new team is made up of two similarly ranked members from the dissolved team.

As for the fourth team, the last remaining genin joined them.

While going through the forest:

"Sensei, do you think the plan will work? Would the enemy really be focused on that captured ninja?" Utakata couldn't help but ask his teacher, Yagura.

Before following the dog to the cave, they had knocked out the enemy they had captured after the short battle with the Konoha shinobis and left him in the thicket of a huge tree, covered by the densely packed branches and leaves at the top of the tree.

They couldn't bring the man with them to the cave, nor kill him, as later on he could prove useful, so the best option left was to properly hide him amongst the vegetation.

The plan was to extensively interrogate the man and get some information out of him later on, but now, looking at the situation, it isn't feasible anymore. They had to make do and turn his existence to their advantage...

"We can only hope the plan will succeed. At the very least, it should buy us some time... The drug should have already worn off by now. Hopefully, that Leaf shinobi can act as enough of a distraction while we escape in the opposite direction."

If one has a solid framework, any plan, however extensive, can be molded with the changing situation and the available chess pieces. The man, in this case, was the flexible piece that could be repurposed.

Either way, even if they had killed the man, nothing would change... Rather, it would have been an even bigger waste. Alive, he could make some noise, grabbing enemy attention... Dead, he couldn't.

In the best-case scenario, the area of search would be focused on that shinobi. However, they all knew it was too much to expect... More then likely, the enemy would not be fooled by such a hastily rehashed plan of theirs, not completely.

While words of caution leave his mouth, Yagura's eyes are focused straight ahead, and his legs are steadfast, leading everyone forward on their path to salvation from this place.

"Whatever may be the case, remain prepared to fight, as the gamble may not work," Chukichi adds, just in case.

All of a sudden, as fate would have it, his fear seem to manifest itself.

In the distance, some shadowy figures come into view, intercepting their group from going any further. Steps halted, an intense staring competition ensues between the two parties.

'As expected, are they the ace—Ino-Shika-Cho team of this generation?' Chukichi exclaims, worry evident on his face.

Capturing an enemy combatant wasn't all for naught. They had gotten some valuable information about the Konoha shinobis from the captured man, so the Kiri shinobis knew whom and what to expect from the Leaf shinobis that have appeared before them.

Other than the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, they do not catch sight of any other shinobi. A bittersweet sigh left Yagura's mouth. The plan seems to have been just partially successful.

Luckily, they aren't faced with the complete forces of the Konoha ninjas.

Still, unluckily, even though there are fewer of them to deal with, their strength seems to compensate for their numbers.

The three visibly conspicuous shinobi ahead are most likely: Dota Akimichi, Santa Yamanaka, and Ensui Nara, the latter from the Nara clan is instantly recognized by Zabuza and his team as he was the one they had previously fought.

Together, The members from the three of their clans are well-known as the Ino-Shika-Cho trio, renowned all around the world for their excellent three-man team, generation after generation.

"I was correct; it's really them," exclaims Santa Yamanaka, one of the best sensory-nin among the new generation of the Leaf Village. He is recognizable with a ponytail.

"Ensui, are the ones you fought among this group of Kiri-nin?" he asks his teammate, Ensui Nara from the Nara clan.

"Yes, it's those four at the front. Look out against that boy at the very front; he isn't ordinary."

"So, he must be the one you warned us about previously... Hard to believe a person who looks so young is as powerful as you say," the Yamanaka remarks.

"Yeah, I agree," Dota Akimichi, beside him, nods.

On the other side...

"Sorry, I didn't notice them beforehand," Chukichi weakly apologizes.

Yagura shakes his head. "No worries... We can't possibly blame an injured man. Later, please avoid confrontation with the enemies if possible. You should make sure the rest of the injured also do the same."

"I know, thank you."

Yagura then addresses his team and the rest of his fellow comrades: "I will take on this Konoha trio. Zabuza, Utakata, and Ruka, you three, along with the others who aren't injured, will take advantage of this disruption and escape while protecting those who are injured."

"Got it?"

"Yes!!" "Hmm!" Nods! All kinds of affirmative responses comes from the ninjas.

"Hurry up, break through. My team will lead the charge, while the remaining uninjured will protect the injured ones, who in turn will have to closely follow behind." Saying so, the future Mizukage gives the order to charge.